Beazley plots bid for top job

Kim Beazley is planning a two-stage strategy for wresting the Labor leadership from Simon Crean with a challenge in late June and, if that fails, another attempt in August.

The aim is to place Mr Crean and some of his supporters who may be wavering under maximum pressure and to show that Mr Beazley is determined to win. "This won't go away," one of his backers said.

Last night Mr Beazley was seen dining with key supporters, including frontbenchers Wayne Swan and Stephen Smith, at the upmarket Canberra restaurant, A Foreign Affair.

But Mr Crean last night refused to be drawn on the agenda of Mr Beazley and his supporters, telling The Age: "I'm confident in my agenda and I'm confident of my support."

Labor's leadership woes threatened to divide the party just as Prime Minister John Howard moved to mend fences with deputy Peter Costello after announcing on Tuesday that he would be staying on as Liberal Party leader.");document.write("

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Mr Howard, who said he intended to stay to the next election, predicted the Treasurer would be Liberal leader one day.

Mr Beazley's first challenge could come as early as June 17. If more time is needed for lobbying, it could be delayed until June 24.

Beazley backers say that if he loses by a margin of 10 to 15 votes, he will mount a second challenge when Parliament resumes in August. If he loses by more than this margin, he is expected to abort his bid to return to the party leadership.

Mr Beazley, who has not yet declared officially that he is a contender, has started lobbying his colleagues over coffee and by telephone.

At this stage, the numbers appear to favour Mr Crean; even Mr Beazley's supporters say he is about six votes short.

Mr Beazley's leadership strategy is believed to have been planned at a meeting last Friday in Sydney attended by Mr Swan, Mr Smith and fellow frontbencher Stephen Conroy, who is also Senate deputy leader.

Mr Crean's supporters have also been discussing their tactics. One option was to bring on a spill of leadership positions in the next two weeks, a spill Mr Crean would be expected to win. But Mr Crean's supporters say this idea has been ditched.

"Mr Crean is the leader of the Labor Party. I think he is doing a fantastic job. I think the polls show us within striking distance for the next election and, in those circumstances, I think what the back bench wants him to do and what the Australian people want him to do is to keep doing what he is doing so successfully, campaigning on the domestic issues."

Mark Latham, another strong Crean supporter, said Mr Beazley had "nowhere near the support" needed. "It's not going to happen. We've never had a leader come back, let alone one who thought he needed to destabilise the party to do it," he said.

Another Crean supporter, who would not be named, predicted a backlash againstMr Beazley and his backers if the first challenge was beaten decisively. "I think the party can tolerate one challenge. A second challenge seals the next election for the Coalition."